Strikeforce import Lavar Johnson meets Joey Beltran at UFC on FOX 2

Less than one week after UFC president Dana White announced that Strikeforce would no longer be promoting heavyweight contests, UFC executives today announced Lavar Johnson (15-5 MMA, 0-0 UFC) has been imported to the UFC and will meet Joey Beltran (13-6 MMA, 3-2 UFC).

The two heavyweights will clash at UFC on FOX 2, which takes place Jan. 28 at Chicago’s United Center.

The night’s main card airs on FOX, but Beltran vs. Johnson is expected to take place on the evening’s preliminary card.

Perhaps best known for his rapid recovery from a 2009 drive-by shooting, “Big” Johnson makes his first appearance for the UFC. The Californian fought six times for the WEC prior to its purchase by the UFC’s parent company, Zuffa, and also went 3-2 during a five-fight stint under the Strikeforce banner.

Meanwhile, Beltran looks to bounce back from a unanimous-decision loss to Stipe Miocic at October’s UFC 136 event. The “Mexicutioner” debuted for the UFC in 2010 and earned TKO wins over Tim Hague and Rolles Gracie. However, he’s gone just 1-3 since and is in need of a positive result.

Strikeforce is expected to promote a heavyweight grand prix final bout between Josh Barnett and Daniel Cormier, as well as one additional contest, before scrapping the division.

The Latest

A total of 26 fighters got their chance to shine on Saturday as part of UFC 190 at Rio de Janeiro’s HSBC Arena. Now that UFC 190 is in the books, it’s time to commence MMAjunkie’s “Three Stars” ceremony.

The man known for cranking submissions to the point of injury added eye-gouging to his repertoire. But is the controversy of Rousimar Palhares too essential to his bizarre, awful appeal for his employers to take any meaningful action against him?

Ronda Rousey’s statistical greatness has already ventured into uncharted territory – just six fights into her UFC career. Check out all the post-fight facts, including Rousey’s latest achievements, about UFC 190.